The Danner research saga continues In many of my DNA-focused blog posts, I have demonstrated how a genetic network—also called a genetic group—can reveal previously unknown connections, solve longstanding mysteries, identify a potential ancestor, and confirm family relationships. DNA matches, especially when analyzed as part of a network, are at the heart of genetic genealogy. …
Tag: DNA
X-DNA Matters: Following the Trail from Mississippi Through South Carolina to Virginia
X-chromosome DNA, commonly called X-DNA, is an important component of genetic genealogy, yet it seems to receive considerably less attention today than it once did. I suspect that part of the reason is simply accessibility. Many DNA testers do not have easy access to information about their X-DNA matches. Nevertheless, X-DNA should not be ignored …
Was Albert and Alfred the Same Person?
One of the many challenges of genealogy is dealing with names. Variations in spelling are common, but researchers must also account for nicknames, middle names, aliases, and even individuals who appear in records under two entirely different given names. This case presented exactly that possibility. As I traced the history of a likely relative named …
Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Genealogy
My mother's great-grandmother, Louisa “Lue” Bobo Danner, was born on January 21, 1842, on the plantation of Dr. William J. Bobo in Union County, South Carolina. She was the eldest of the many children born to Clarissa Bobo, an enslaved woman on the Bobo plantation. Around 1859, Dr. Bobo relocated to Panola County, Mississippi, bringing …
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Uncle Nicholas Johnson was in my Backyard
My father’s great-grandmother, Jane Parrott Ealy of Leake County, Mississippi, was born around 1829 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Her enslaver, Rev. William Parrott, transported Jane, along with her parents and siblings, to Mississippi shortly before 1840. While researching the court records of William Parrott and those of his wife’s family—Elizabeth Johnson Parrott—I discovered that Jane’s …
Building a Genealogical Case with DNA: Samuel Tanner of Texas
Recently, an eye-opening DNA cousin appeared among my mother’s matches on Ancestry.com. She shares 23 cM with my mother and shares even more DNA with my mother’s sister and brother – 36 cM and 43 cM, respectively. These are not insignificant amounts of shared DNA, giving me confidence that I could potentially determine how she …
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Never Giving Up: The Power of Persistence in Genealogy
Genealogy requires diligence, patience, persistence, strategy, and above all, hope. For many family lines, answers do not appear quickly or easily. They rarely come from a few computer clicks, and they certainly don’t leap off a screen. Instead, the truth reveals itself over time, often after we return to the same puzzles again and again …
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Is Ancestry’s Pro Tools Worth It?
Someone recently asked if Ancestry.com’s Pro Tools is worth the investment. I wanted to share a quick example based on my experience. (Note: I’m not affiliated with Ancestry.com.) For me, it became worthwhile when they introduced the Enhanced Shared Matches feature. This tool shows how much DNA a match shares with your shared matches—those who …
Be Cautious with DNA Matches
Genetic groups are very instrumental in discovering family connections that had been either unknown or is a genetic verification to family already found from genealogy research. All my genetic genealogy cases on this blog involve finding or confirming a family member after uncovering genetic groups (i.e. genetic networks) among my parents’ DNA matches. A genetic …
There’s History in a Name: Connecting Dots to the 18th Century
DNA continues to be a strong sledgehammer to pre-Civil War brick walls. This case underscores at least 23 research tips. They are in the conclusion below. Since 1993, I have researched the roots of my mother’s paternal grandfather, William “Bill” Reed (1846-1937) of Tate County, Mississippi. He migrated to northern Mississippi shortly after slavery from …
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Roots Revealed 